as in rubbing
to make smooth by friction
painstakingly sanded down the wooden floors of the old house
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Recent Examples of sanding
Age has a way of mellowing a person, sanding away their rough edges, leaving only their essence.
—
Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Pitchfork, 2 Mar. 2026
City of Dallas has only eight snow plows The city of Dallas has only eight snow plows and about 100 sanding trucks for 11,700 lane miles of roads, forcing it to prioritize.
—Julia James, Dallas Morning News, 6 Feb. 2026
Before those efforts, crews will continue sanding operations around the city to treat roads this week.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, other refinements included sanding and polishing the carbon-fiber composite surface.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 14 Jan. 2026
After sanding and wiping down well with a tacky cloth to get rid of grit, use a paint primer to help the paint stick to the wood and prevent additional cracks.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 11 Jan. 2026
Increase their longevity by sanding down the biofilm lurking on the surface.
—Matt Fuchs, Time, 24 Nov. 2025
However, deteriorating or disturbed lead paint — through sanding or stripping — can create toxic dust that poses serious health hazards, particularly to children.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Even the DeSantis administration might have some qualms about sanding off crosswalk markings within sight of the club where 49 people died in the early morning hours of June 12, 2016.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Aug. 2025
Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Pitchfork, 2 Mar. 2026
City of Dallas has only eight snow plows The city of Dallas has only eight snow plows and about 100 sanding trucks for 11,700 lane miles of roads, forcing it to prioritize.
—Julia James, Dallas Morning News, 6 Feb. 2026
Before those efforts, crews will continue sanding operations around the city to treat roads this week.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, other refinements included sanding and polishing the carbon-fiber composite surface.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 14 Jan. 2026
After sanding and wiping down well with a tacky cloth to get rid of grit, use a paint primer to help the paint stick to the wood and prevent additional cracks.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 11 Jan. 2026
Increase their longevity by sanding down the biofilm lurking on the surface.
—Matt Fuchs, Time, 24 Nov. 2025
However, deteriorating or disturbed lead paint — through sanding or stripping — can create toxic dust that poses serious health hazards, particularly to children.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Even the DeSantis administration might have some qualms about sanding off crosswalk markings within sight of the club where 49 people died in the early morning hours of June 12, 2016.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sanding
Verb
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Dollander experienced a rookie season that ranked somewhere between eating thumbtacks and rubbing a cheese grater on shins.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
3 Mar. 2026
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This research doesn’t offer a fix, though the internet has plenty of advice that may be risky, including rubbing soap or a dryer sheet on the soles.—
Adithi Ramakrishnan,
Fortune,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Remove all oil residue from the nail beds before polishing.—
Ariana Yaptangco,
Glamour,
24 Feb. 2026
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Harsh Chemicals and Abrasive Cleaners Avoid using harsh chemicals and abrasive cleaners when cleaning and polishing wood flooring.—
Maria Sabella,
The Spruce,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Those declines reflect a long list of new questions facing the business world — from the cost of oil coming out of the Middle East and supply chain disruptions to consumer confidence and the grinding uncertainty.—
Ritu Upadhyay,
Footwear News,
3 Mar. 2026
-
But Ejiofor remained patient, grinding behind the scenes to prepare for his opportunity.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The amount beneficiaries receive varies based on several factors, including the number of people filing.—
Asher Notheis,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Mar. 2026
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Rovelo-Gallegos won his freedom by filing for habeas corpus, a court petition that challenges the legality of a person’s detention.—
Kristen Taketa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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These provide enough force for buffing out scratches without further damaging the surface.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
7 Mar. 2026
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Anything above 220 is considered fine and works well for smoothing edges and buffing the nail surface to a polished finish.—
Lily Wohlner,
Allure,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Most major 2026 Democratic gubernatorial candidates are sharpening their anti-Trump rhetoric.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
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A great deal of time was devoted to getting physically and mentally stronger and sharpening his focus.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sanding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sanding. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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